An ageing countess discovers by accident that she can restore her youth by bathing in the blood of virgins, and murders a series of young women in order to seduce a young soldier she is in love with. On her wedding-day however, things go badly ...
One of Hammer's last great movies, shot at Pinewood in glorious bloody Eastmancolour. Based on the legend of Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th-century Hungarian Countess said to have bathed in blood, its prime asset is an incredible performance from Pitt, who plays both versions of the Countess (old crone and young hussy) with incredible skill. This is a woman who redefines lusty as an adjective, and Pitt uses every inch of her body and every nuance of her characterisation to tremendous effect. The rest of the cast fill out the melodrama with aplomb, particularly Denham as a cagey old bookworm and Lawrence as a bit of village crumpet, and the movie is gorgeously shot by Ken Talbot, all candelight flickering on marble and sun-dappled forests. A classic British horror film.
One of Hammer's last great movies, shot at Pinewood in glorious bloody Eastmancolour. Based on the legend of Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th-century Hungarian Countess said to have bathed in blood, its prime asset is an incredible performance from Pitt, who plays both versions of the Countess (old crone and young hussy) with incredible skill. This is a woman who redefines lusty as an adjective, and Pitt uses every inch of her body and every nuance of her characterisation to tremendous effect. The rest of the cast fill out the melodrama with aplomb, particularly Denham as a cagey old bookworm and Lawrence as a bit of village crumpet, and the movie is gorgeously shot by Ken Talbot, all candelight flickering on marble and sun-dappled forests. A classic British horror film.